For 80% of colorectal cancers, Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors may be effective

the ONA take:

According to a new study published in the journal Science Signaling, a team of researchers from around the world has demonstrated that more than 80% of colorectal cancers could be treated with Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors. For the study, researchers tested JAK inhibitors in preclinical models of colorectal cancer and human colorectal cancer cells that have elevated levels of Wnt signaling.

A genetic mutation triggers increases levels Wnt pathway signaling, which in turn triggers more than 80% of colorectal cancers. According to the researchers, targeting the Wnt signaling pathway is difficult because normal cells in the intestine require low levels of Wnt signaling to maintain the healthiness of the gut.

The researchers sought to determine whether another signaling pathway, which involves JAK proteins, could be targeted to decrease tumor growth without harming the normal cells of the intestine. They found that inhibiting JAKs could halt cancer growth and no adverse effects were observed in the preclinical models; however, JAK inhibitors were only effective when the colorectal tumors were triggered by defective Wnt signaling, which is about 80-90% of colorectal cancers.

There are currently no JAK inhibitors approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of cancer.

More than 80% of colorectal cancers could be treated with Janus kinase inhibitors

An international team of scientists has shown that more than 80 per cent of bowel cancers could be treated with existing drugs. The study found that medicines called 'JAK inhibitors' halted tumour growth in bowel cancers with a genetic mutation that is present in more than 80 per cent of bowel cancers. Multiple JAK inhibitors are currently used, or are in clinical trials, for diseases including rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, blood cancers and myeloproliferative disorders.